Display rack for linoleum, etc.



Feb. 5, 1929; 1,701,045

. E. v. KRAUS msnm; RACK Fon 'LINoLmuug mc Original Filed dan. 24, 1927 INVENTOR av @Ang Nei' Patented Feb. p, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFElcE.

EDWARD V. KRAUS, OF NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY.

DISPLAY RACK FOR LINOLEUM, ETC.

Application filed January 24, 1927, Serial No. 163,098. Renewed September 29, 1928.

This invention is an improvement'` in devices for supporting rolled goods, Such as linoleum, Wire cloth and the like, in convenient position for retailing, and more paro ticularly in devices enabling measured lengths or the material to be Withdrawn and severe-d from the roll by rotation of the roll on a lined axis.

l-leretofore, so far as I am aware, linoleuni has been retailed 'from the roll standing on end on the floor, and as a rule two operators are required to Withdraw a measured length from the roll, one to Withdraw and measure the material, and the other to support the roll during the necessary turning thereof in the univinding of the goods.

Because ot the limited space available for such materials, the rolls are usually arranged in close relation, and since they are inclined to be top heavy the liability to upsetting is great. rlhe upsetting of one roll is liable to upset or disarrange a number of other rolls, and the material on the roll is prone to be some slack or loose, since there is nothing to hold the free end.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is the provision of a rotatable and movable support for holding a roll, so arranged that any selected length of material may be Withdrawn merely by pulling on the loose end of the material, and Without the necessity for guidance of the roll in its rotating movement by another operator.

it urther object is the provision of a mounting Jfor the roll on the support, so arranged that the mounting may be swung at an angle to the support, thereby to enable the transiter oi a roll to the support 'from a truck, tor instance, run alongside the support.

A further object is the provision in a support of such character of means to hold the loose end of the material in close contact With the body of the roll, thereby to prevent slackness in the roll, and to provide a guide Jfor the line of severance of the desired length.

A further object is the provision of means operated by the movement of the material as it is 'drawn from the roll for measuring the length Withdrawn.

A further object is the vprovision oli' cutting mechanism for the material so arranged that it Will move at right angles to the side edges ot' the material, having guided movement on a straight edge held parallel with the axis of rotation of the roll.

A further object is the provision of a unit support of a character such that a number of units may be connected together into a battery, with the units arranged in pairs, the members of each pair back to back, and connected at their sides to the corresponding members ot other pairs.

lilith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts fully described hereinafter, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims appended hereto, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details ot construction Within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without 'departing from the spirit. of the invention.

ln the drawings forming a part hereof:

Fig. l is a side view of the improved device with a roll in place.

Fig. 2 is a plan View ott a portion or' a battery of' thc devices.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section through the device.

Fig. 4 .is an enlarged detail in perspective oi' the connection between adjacent devices. Fig. 5 is a detail in section ot the latch.

Fig. 6 is a detail in plan of the straight edge and cutter.

ln vthe present embodiment of the invention, the improved supporting device includes a base l, preferably ot' square formation, and wheel supported, the supporting wheels be ing caster wheels, as indicated at 2. Preerably the central portion of the base is cut away as shown at 3 for the salie ot lightness, and to save material.

The support for the roll oi' material, such for instance as linoleum or Wire cloth, includes a head 4 of circular formation, which is rotatably mounted in a ring 5. Any preferred form ot mounting` may be used. In the present instance the head has an annular peripheral rib 6, which engages a rabbet 7 in the underside of the ring, and a retaining ring 8 engages beneath the rib, to hold the head to the ring.

The head is rotatable in the ring, and to relieve strain on the ring and to facilitate rotation of the head, a ball bearing of usual construction, indicated at 9 is mounted on the base, the head resting upon the ball bearing when the parts are inthe positions Iof Figs. l and 2.

The ring is hinged to the base, to lie flat thereon as shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 3, or to swing at an angle thereto, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, in order to enable the engagement of a roll of material 10 with the head. The hinge connection between the ing and the base includes a curved bearing lug 11 extending forwardly and upwardly from the middle of the front of the base, and a pair of lugs 12 on the ring 2 spaced to receive the bearing lug 11 between them. A pintle 13 engages the alined lugs, thus to hingedly connect the ring with the base.

At its center the head has a socket 14, for receiving the lower end of a core 15 which supports the roll 10. This core may be of any shape and material, but preferably the socket engaging end is polygonal, and the socket is correspondingly shaped. Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the socket depends into the cut away portion 3 of the base.

A post or standard 6 `extends upwardly from one corner of the base, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, and this post carries a spring latch 17, engaging over the ring 5 when it is seated on the base to hold the ring in such position. The latch may be easily disengaged by pressing it toward the post, and the post carries a tensioning device for holding the loose end of the material against the roll, thus to prevent slackness of the material on the roll.

The tensioning device is in the form of an open frame 18, having at one side a plurality of bearings 19. The bearings are in alinement, and fit over the post, and are journaled thereon, the lowermost abutting the end of the latch, to limit downward movement of the frame. rhe opposite side of the frame is bent angularly toward the axis of the head, as indicated at 20, and this portion carries one or more antifriction rollers 21, which are pressed against the periphery of the roll by a coil spring 22. rlhis spring is on the post 16, has one end connected thereto, and the other engaging the frame, and the spring` normally holds the rollers 21 closely against the roll.

The free side of the frame 18 provides a straight edge along which a knife may be run to cut a withdrawn length of material from the roll. In the present instance such a knife, the blade indicated at 23, is mounted on the straight edge. The straight edge is provided with a vertical undercut groove 24, which forms a guideway for receiving a headed member 25 on the knife. In the present instance the headed member is on the blade, but it is obvious that it might be on the handle if found more practical. The knife is provided with a handle 26 as shown, and the point thereof is hooked to facilitate the cutting action of the blade. For convenience a measuring device indicated generally at 27, for measuring and indcating a withdrawn length of material is mounted on the frame 18, and the said device is driven by the antifriction rollers 21 lt will be evident from the description that each of the devices is an independent unit, adapted to support a single roll ofmaterial, and mechanism is provided for connecting these units into a battery of any selected number. Because of the fact that the rings are hinged to the front edges of the bases, the units are assembled in pairs, the members of ach pair being arranged back to back, and number of pairs may be connected, the corresponding members of the pairs in side by side arrangement.

The connecting mechanism is in the form of angle lugs 23. Three pairs of these lugs are connected with each unit, one pair at the rear edge, and a pair at each side edge. All of the brackets are pivoted to the base, each having a depending journal pin 29 rotatable in the base. Each angle bracket has its free end rabbeted as shown at 3() and provided with an opening for receiving a connecting pin or rod 3l. The brackets are symmetrically placed on the units, and the arrangement is such that the rabbeted ends of each pair of units will lap the rabbeted ends of the pair on the adjacent base. The rod may then be passed through registering openings, and held in any desired manner, as for instance by the Cotter pins as shown.

In use as many of the units may be connected together as may be desired. To load a unit, the rolls 10, which are usually handled on trucks as shown in Fig. 1, are wheeled into position, with a roll in register with the unit on which it is to be placed. As shown in Fig. 1, the latch 1? is released, and the ring is swung into the dotted line position, against the end of the roll on the truck. The core 15 is passed through the center of the roll and engaged with the socket. The outer ond of the roll is now lifted, tilting the ring back into horizontal position on the base, and the latch holds it in such position.

To withdraw a measured length of mat-erial, the free end is grasped and pulled away from the roll. The head rotates easily with the roll, and as the length of material is withdrawn, it is measured by the instrument indicated at 27. When the required amount has been withdrawn, the knife may be moved vertically from top to bottom, cutting the material cleanly along the edge of the straight edge as a guide. When a considerable length of material is to be withdrawn, the loose end of the roll may be engaged with a core on another unit, positioned in front of the unit which carries the roll. By rotating the head of the receiving unit, the material is withdrawn and measured, and when completely withdrawn may be severed from the remaining material. The tensioning devices hold the loose ends of the material on both units. It Will be obvious that the units may be arranged in single units, in pairs, or in any multiple of pairs.

The ant-ifriction rollers are preferably covered with a materia-l such as rubber or telt, to prevent marring oit the material. The rolls are held in vertical position, Without any possibility of accidental upsetting, and they may be stored in close proximity, thus requiring a minimum of room. Only one man is required to handle the material retailing, and any desired length of material may be Withdrawn and measured in a very short time and without regard to the Weight ofi the material. lllie device is especially adapted ior handling heavy material, such as inlaid linoleums, fonce Wire and the like.

When in supporting position for a roll, the Weight of the head and the roll is on the base, so that there is no strain on the ring or its connections. Even when single units are used, there is little or no liability to upsetting, since the unit forms a relatively large base. ln addition pressure on the top ot the roll tending to upset, would move the support instead of tipping over the roll.

Vhat is claimed as new is l. Mechanism for displaying rolls of linoleum or the like, including a substantially rectangular base, and a rotatable roll support hinged to the base at one side thereof t rest thereon or to assume a position at an angle thereto, the base having connecting mechanism at the three sides remote from the hinge connection of the ring to connect said base With other similar bases at the said three sides.

2. In a device :for supporting rolls of linoleum or the like, a substantially rectangular Wheel supported base, a rotating support for a roll of linoleum hinged to the base at one side to rest thereon or to assume an angle with respect thereto, said base having at the three sides remote from the hinge connection of the roll supporting means, mechanism to connect with similar bases :tor the purpose specified.

3. Mechanism for displaying rolls of linoleum or the like, including a base, a ring hinged to the base, a roll supporting head journaled for rotation in the ring and car ried thereby, and an anti-friction bearing carried by the base upon Which the head rotates.

4. Mechanism for displaying rolls of linoleum or the like, including a base, airing hinged to the base, a roll supporting head journaled for rotation in the ring and carried thereby, an antiuriction bearing carried by the base upon which the head rotates, a post carried by the base, and a straight edge hinged to the post and normally spring biased toward the axis ot the head.

5. Mechanism for displaying rolls of linoleum or the like, including a base, a roll support hinged to the base, a post carried by the base, and a frame hinged to the post and normally spring biased toward the axis of the roll support, the edge of the frame remote from the post constituting a straight edge, the straight edge having a guide at the edge remote from the post, and a cutter movable in the guide longitudinally oi' the post.

6. Mechanism for displaying rolls et linoleum and the like, including a base, a ring hinged to the base, a roll supporting head journaled for rotation in the ring and carried thereby, and an antifriction bearing for the head.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 22d day vor January, A. D. 1927.

EDVJARD V. KRAUS. 

